Ghostface OG Star Matthew Lillard Fears He Could Ruin the Franchise with the Seventh Installment.

The long-awaited slasher sequel Scream 7 is set to arrive in theaters in the coming year, and it is preparing for a massive family reunion. This latest installment signals the iconic return of Neve Campbell as final girl Sidney Prescott, following her absence from the last entry. She will, per tradition, be joined by Courtney Cox as journalist Gail Weathers, but they won't be the only fan-favorite characters making a comeback.

"Returning to a character you played in your mid-20s when you're 55 was a challenge that kept me up at night," Lillard reveals.

A Triumphant Comeback for Fallon Favorites

It has been established that three different characters from past films are set to return in this latest sequel, even though dying in previous installments. The exact mechanism of their resurrection is still unclear. Audiences should get ready for the return of the endearing and seemingly immortal officer Dewey Riley, the filmmaker and Scream 3 killer Roman Bridger, and one half of the first film's killer pair, Stu Macher.

The Weight of Iconic Legacy

For Matthew Lillard, returning to the franchise for the first occasion since a brief cameo is a dream come true, though he is apprehensive about the audience response. The actor vividly recalls the exact moment he received the news from the series creator.

"I remember the phone call. I remember the small talk. I recall him asking. That instance is permanently etched on my psyche," he says. "Therefore I'm incredibly honored to be back. I'm really excited to be back."

Stu Macher has achieved cult status in the decades since the original film was released, which left Lillard feeling quite nervous.

"The reality is, that's a part that is infamous, for better or worse," he notes. "A part that is now represented in every single Ghostface mask that appears every October 31st."

The Fear of Disappointing the Fans

Now that production has concluded, Lillard is waiting as everyone else to see the finished film. He confesses to feeling immense anxiety about hoping not to be the one who damages the popular series.

"The outcome is either a success and people are thrilled to have you, or it's a fail," Lillard points out. "At the start, I don't know if the film will gonna work. I am unsure if people want to see me. I've definitely seen enough people state and say, 'Stu is dead. Why are they returning to this idea?' So the reality is that I feel a lot of pressure to not mess up the series. I don't want people exiting Scream 7 and saying, 'Well, that sucked, and Matthew Lillard was the cause.'"

Speculation and Excitement Run High

While many longtime fans are eagerly awaiting Stu's return, the central mystery of how he and the others return remains. Perhaps they live as manifestations in Sidney's consciousness, similar to a prior storyline. Alternatively, perhaps they are somehow still living in a strange shared scenario. The possibility of a meta-horror narrative, inspired by classic horror movies, also is on the table.

Audiences will discover the truth when Scream 7 arrives in theaters.